Arizona Watcher
U.S. tariffs and security rules effectively bar Chinese-built electric cars from dealer lots, yet thousands of the same vans are being imported and converted for use by an autonomous ride service on American streets.
The vehicles are Zeekr CM1e vans, branded internally as the Ojai. Customs data show more than 3,200 passed through the Port of Los Angeles since 2024, with over 2,600 arriving so far this year; the paperwork points to the autonomous operator.
A 127.5% tariff on Chinese-built passenger EVs would push a van priced at about $39,000 toward a roughly $89,000 landed cost before modifications. Added autonomous sensors and computing gear likely exceed $10,000 per vehicle.
The company confirmed it is actively operating more than 300 Ojais across San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix. It operates in 11 cities, has about 3,900 vehicles overall, and plans a mixed fleet including U.S.-produced models.
Imported vans arrive without active sensors or computing systems to meet U.S. security requirements. The autonomous hardware and software are developed domestically and installed at a Mesa, Arizona conversion facility run jointly with Magna.
The Ojai offers sliding doors on both sides, a flat floor and more cabin space for riders. It uses the operator’s sixth‑generation Driver, which the company says halves per‑vehicle hardware costs and adds features like a conversational in-ride assistant.
Analysts estimate roughly 300 Ojais arriving monthly and say Geely may subsidize costs amid Chinese EV overcapacity. The operator reports weekly paid trips above 500,000 and has set an internal target of one million paid rides per week as it scales.
High tariffs and security limits keep Chinese-built electric cars off U.S. dealership lots, yet thousands of the same vans are being imported for use in autonomous ride services. Waymo has been bringing in Zeekr CM1e vans—branded internally as the Ojai—and converting them in…